Paul Runyon
Melissa Traverso
Anissa Ottens
September 28 2010



Voice Thread
What is it?

A VoiceThread is a multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos. Users can navigate pages and leave comments in 5 ways by using voice, text, video (webcam), or an audio file. You can share your VoiceThread with others on VoiceThread or send it to many different sites on the internet (facebook, myspace, live journal, igoogle) etc.




How to Create:
  • Follow the step by step instructions below:
    • Go to http://voicethread.com/#home
    • Click on Sign in or Register in the upper right hand corner of the page.
    • A small window will pop up. Simply click on register on the bottom middle of the screen.
    • Next, fill in all the required information.
    • You now have a VoiceThread account!
  • Next time you go to http://voicethread.com/#home, simply go to the same Sign in or Register button in the upper right hand corner of the page, and enter your email address and your password in the pop up box. This will sign you in every time.
  • Now it's time to make your first VoiceThread!
  • There are three simple steps to creating a VoiceThread, once you have an account made.
    • Upload - Add pictures, documents, videos, and even PowerPoints by browsing you're computer, adding a URL, or from other media sources.
    • Comment - Comment by microphone, typing, phone, webcam, or doodling.
    • Share - Share your work with others by either emailing it to them or posting it online for others to view.


Classroom Uses:

Teachers:
  • A Meet and Greet for Parents- Teachers can easily create a Voicethread telling about themselves before the beginning of the school year. You can add interesting facts about yourself and describe your philosophy of teaching and what they can expect in your classroom.
  • Classroom Media Journal- While in the classroom, teachers can pick a project to record in some form of media throughout the week. As teachers, we can take pictures of the art project we’re working on as a class, or video record the class science project. With Voicethread, we can easily upload these videos and pictures for a simple, interactive way for parents to become involved in the classroom, even if they work during the week. This could also be used for class parties and special events.
  • Classroom Introduction- You could take a picture of each center in your classroom (block center, dress-up center, kitchen center, etc.) and have a voice clip describing each center and how and what they’re learning in each center.


Students:
  • Reading Fluency Projects- Have students write their own stories. They can then create illustrations for their story in KidPix, and then upload them into Voicethread. Students can then read their story to create a digital copy. This project mainly works on a child's speech and their fluency while reading aloud.
  • Absent Students - Students can access the lesson taught in class at home when they are sick so that they do not get behind in the classwork. Teachers can also have students who need some extra help watch these lessons at home while they are doing their homework. This would give students the opportunity to get help whenever they needed it.
  • Pen Pal Projects- Voicethread gives educators and classrooms a great opportunity to have online Pen Pal Projects. Teachers can have a sister classroom in another part of the country, or even in another country entirely, to facilitate friendships between new and exciting students. Students could also do a similar project with Military overseas.


Parents:
  • Parents can use this to see what their students are creating in their classrooms: such as book reports, or writings they have made into digital stories.
  • The parents also can see lessons that the teacher is giving if the student is having trouble at home with the homework and they do not know how to help them.


ELL Students:
  • Voice threads can be used for ELL students to give them more in depth lessons if they are struggling with the lesson given in class. They can listen to the lecture on line and hear it again or possibly the lesson online could go into more examples and details for the student to relate to and comprehend the information.

General Uses:
  • People can use Voice Thread in order to present at a conference if they are not able to attend. The person can record their Voice Thread presentation for their colleagues.
  • You can use Voice Thread to make personal videos to send to friends and family.
  • Voice Thread can also be used to make a digital story and share with people if you are passionate about a certain subject and want to share you thoughts with people around the world.


Our Presentation:




Resources:

Citations:
Bannon, D. (2008). Voice Thread for all Grade Levels. In The Writing Site. Retrieved September 25,2010, from http://www.thewritingsite.org/resources/tech nology/voicethread.asp
Cassinelli, C. (2009, July). Voicthread 4 Education. Retrieved September 25, 2010, from
http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/

Using Voicethread for Digital Conversations. (2009, June). Digitally Speaking. Retrieved September 25, 2010, from http://digitallyspeaking.pbworks.com/Voicethread
Voicethread Library. (2007, September). Voicethread. Retrieved September 25, 2010, from http://voicethread.com/library/
Voice Thread FAQ. (2007). Retrieved September 25, 2010, from http://voicethread.com/help/faq/








Adapted from: Mortiz Spring 2010, Wetzel Spring 2010, Wetzel Fall 2009